Cuyutlan, Colima
Cuyutlan is located on the Pacific coast of the state of Colima, 62 kms south-east of Manzanillo. It is accessible by car along the Highway 200 toll road and by bus from Manzanillo or Colima City, via Armería.
It is a small, quaint, beachside town with cobblestoned, tree-lined streets. It's wide beach is famous for its giant "Green Wave" during the months of April and May, which reportedly can reach a height of between 8 and 15 meters. The spectacular luminescent green color of the water is said to be produced by the phosphorescence of marine plankton or algae and is a magical sight to watch at night.
The village caters to beachgoers and has many small restaurants and seafood eateries both in town and along the beachfront, as well as a number of clean and reasonable hotels. Along the beach itself are convenient sunshades and lounge chairs for rental by the hour or day. Vendors offer regional candies, coconuts, hammocks and souvenirs..
The beach consists of dark, fine sand; boogie boarding and surfing are some of the favorite sports. Nearby is the Cuyutlan Lagoon, offering fishing and some fabulous bird and nature watching amongst the mangroves.
Museo de la Sal
One of Cuyutlan's attractions is it's Museo de la Sal - Salt Museum, which displays the processing involved in the extraction of sea salt and its history. Nearby in the railyards there are many richly weathered wooden storage sheds that were used for warehousing the salt before shipping. During the Spanish colonialization of Mexico, Cuyutlan was one of the the major salt suppliers for the silver mines of Guanajuato and the area is still an important sea-salt producer today.
Click here for more about sea salt.
El Tortugario de Cuyutlan
The Cuyutlan Tortugario, or ecological Turtle Sanctuary, is located about 3 kms south of town along the beach. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Admission is $15 pesos (2002).
Here various species of marine turtle are sheltered until large enough to be released into the ocean and left on their own. The Tortugario also shelters other species of land turtle, iguanas and baby alligators.
The turtle sanctuary is supported totally by private donations, and to keep the program alive contributors and addtional support are always needed.
Hotels
Hotel Bucanero - a 49-room hotel with pool and restaurant located on Paseo de los Estados s/n, Cuyutlán.
Phone (313) 326-4005. Reservations Tel. 01-800-024-3136 toll free from within Mexico
Hotel Morelos - 40-room hotel with pool and restaurant. Hidalgo 185, Cuyutlán. Tel (313) 326-4013.
Hotel Fenix - Just under 30 rooms, with restaurant. Hidalgo 201, Cuyutlan. Tel. (313) 326-4082.
Hotel Maria Victoria - 80-room hotel (some beachfront with balconies) with restaurant and small pool. Veracruz No. 10, Cuyutlán. Tel. (313) 326-4004
Hotel San Rafael - 30 rooms, some with ocean view, with pool and open-air restaurant.
Hotel Reservations in Manzanillo | Hotel Reservations in Colima City
